Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series > Pat O’Brien Stakes
Pat O’Brien Stakes Race Facts
- Location: Del Mar Racetrack, Del Mar, CA
- Inaugural Race: 1980
- Distance: 7/8ths of a mile (7 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-handed, Dirt
- Age Qualifications: Three Year Olds and up
- 2022 Purse: $250,000
- 2022 Race Date: Saturday, August 27th
2022 Pat O’Brien Stakes Race Results
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Laurel River | Juan J. Hernandez / Bob Baffert | $15.80 / $7.20 / $6.20 |
| 4 | American Theorem | Joe Bravo / George Papaprodromou | $5.00 / $4.20 |
| 10 | Senor Buscador | Edwin A. Maldonado / Todd W. Fincher | $10.00 |
| 8 | Speaker's Corner | Mike E. Smith / William I. Mott | |
| 6 | The Chosen Vron | Hector Isaac Berrios / J. Eric Kruljac | |
| 9 | Defunded | Abel Cedillo / Bob Baffert | |
| 5 | Get Her Number | Ramon A. Vazquez / Peter Miller | |
| 1 | C Z Rocket | Umberto Rispoli / Peter Miller | |
| 2 | Principe Carlo | Victor Espinoza / Librado Barocio | |
| 3 | Restrainedvengence | Tiago Josue Pereira / Val Brinkerhoff |
Exotic Payoffs:
- $1.00 Exacta (7-4) Paid: $36.90
- $0.50 Trifecta (7-4-10) Paid: $249.15
- $0.10 Superfecta (7-4-10-8) Paid: $240.70
Watch the 2022 Pat O’Brien Stakes
Pat O’Brien Stakes Race History
The Pat O’Brien Handicap is a Grade II horse race run each year at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, CA. The race is named for Del Mar co-founder Pat O’Brien, an accomplished character actor who often starred along with Hollywood legend James Cagney. A massive fan of horse racing, O’Brien served on the founding Board of Directors for Del Mar along with other notable figures such as Bing Crosby and Willam A. Quigley.
A few notable horses have won the race, including the 1995 winner Lit de Justice. Not only did he set the dirt speed record* with a time of 1:20.06, but he went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint the next year as part of his Sprint Horse Championship campaign. 1996 winner Alphabet Soup went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic that year, and 2014 winner Goldencents parlayed his victory into a repeat win at the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Currently, Victor Espinoza is the winningest jockey in the races’ history with six, a title he has held since 2009. Legendary trainer Bob Baffert has notched a record eight wins at the race, including four straight victories between 2010 and 2013.
The race is featured in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” Series, awarding the winner an automatic bid to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
*Goldencents holds the Polytrack speed record with a time of 1:20.99 which he set in 2014
Pat O’Brien Stakes Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Distance / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Laurel River | Juan J. Hernandez / Bob Baffert | 7 F / 1:21.37 |
| 2021 | Ginobili | Drayden Van Dyke / Richard Baltas | 7 F / 1:22.36 |
| 2020 | C Z Rocket | Flavien Prat / Peter L. Miller | 7 F / 1:22.25 |
| 2019 | Catalina Cruiser | Flavien Prat / John W. Sadler | 7 F / 1:22.00 |
| 2018 | Catalina Cruiser | Drayden Van Dyke / John W. Sadler | 7 F / 1:22.13 |
| 2017 | Giant Expectations | Gary L. Stevens / Peter Eurton | 7 F / 1:21.08 |
| 2016 | Masochistic | Tyler Baze / Ronald W. Ellis | 7 F / 1:20.31 |
| 2015 | Appealing Tale | Joseph Talamo / Peter L. Miller | 7 F / 1:21.40 |
| 2014 | Goldencents | Rafael Bejarano / Doug F. O'Neill | 7 F / 1:20.99 |
| 2013 | Fed Biz | Martin Garcia / Bob Baffert | 7 F / 1:21.12 |
| 2012 | Capital Account | David R. Flores / Bob Baffert | 7 F / 1:21.56 |
| 2011 | The Factor | Martin Garcia / Bob Baffert | 7 F / 1:21.56 |
| 2010 | El Brujo | Joel Rosario / Bob Baffert | 7 F / 1:21.70 |
| 2009 | Zensational | Victor Espinoza / Bob Baffert | 7 F / 1:22.31 |
| 2008 | Lewis Michael | René R. Douglas / Wayne M. Catalano | 7 F / 1:21.17 |
| 2007 | Greg's Gold | Victor Espinoza / David E. Hofmans | 7 F / 1:23.95 |
| 2006 | Siren Lure | Alex O. Solis / Art Sherman | 7 F / 1:21.89 |
| 2005 | Imperialism | Victor Espinoza / Kristin Mulhall | 7 F / 1:21.70 |
| 2004 | Kela | Tyler Baze / Mike R. Mitchell | 7 F / 1:21.17 |
| 2003 | Disturbingthepeace | Victor Espinoza / Darrell Vienna | 7 F / 1:21.53 |
| 2002 | Disturbingthepeace | Victor Espinoza / Darrell Vienna | 7 F / 1:21.89 |
| 2001 | El Corredor | Victor Espinoza / Bob Baffert | 7 F / 1:20.42 |
| 2000 | Love That Red | Corey Nakatani / Bob Baffert | 7 F / 1:21.89 |
| 1999 | Regal Thunder | Chris Antley / Julio C. Canani | 7 F / 1:21.13 |
| 1998 | Old Topper | Eddie Delahoussaye / Noble Threewitt | 7 F / 1:21.51 |
| 1997 | Tres Paraiso | Gary L. Stevens / Darrell Vienna | 7 F / 1:21.45 |
| 1996 | Alphabet Soup | Chris Antley / David E. Hofmans | 7 F / 1:20.79 |
| 1995 | Lit de Justice | Corey Nakatani / Jenine Sahadi | 7 F / 1:20.06 |
| 1994 | D'Hallevant | Corey Nakatani / Ron McAnally | 7 F / 1:20.25 |
| 1993 | Slerp | Adalberto Diaz Lopez / Robert B. Hess Jr. | 7 F / 1:21.36 |
| 1992 | Light of Morn | Eddie Delahoussaye / Rodney Rash | 7 F / 1:20.65 |
| 1991 | Bruho | Corey Nakatani / Jerry M. Fanning | 7 F / 1:21.40 |
| 1990 | Sensational Star | Rafael Q. Meza / William Spawr | 7 F / 1:20.60 |
| 1989 | Olympic Native | Robbie Davis / Mike J. Orman | 7 F / 1:20.20 |
| 1988 | Sebrof | Gary L. Stevens / Laz Barrera | 7 F / 1:20.40 |
| 1987 | Zany Tactics | Jack L. Kaenel / Blake R. Heap | 7 F / 1:21.20 |
| 1986 | Bold Brawley | Pat Valenzuela / Ronald W. Ellis | 7 F / 1:20.40 |
| 1981–1985 | Race not held | ||
| 1980 | Seafood | Marco Castaneda / Robert J. Frankel | 7 1⁄2 F / 1:30.40 |